Magneto



13, 1932. a. J. LANG ET AL MAGNETO Filed Aug. 16, 193C 2 sheets sheet Dec. 13, 1932. G. J. LANG ET AL MAGNETO Filed Aug 16, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 M 0 fan wi s? $2720 A rrz'n BY I Q )4. QQW

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 1-3, 1932' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUSTAVE J. LANG, OF LONG'MEADOW, AND JOHN F. MARTIN, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSA- CHUSETTS, ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN BOSCH MAGNETO CORPORATION, 01? SPRING- FIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK MAGNETO Application filed August 16, 1930. Serial No. 475,652.

This invention relates to improvements in ignition devices, and especially to a magneto wear and prevent leakage of the ignition current, and similar defects in the function of the apparatus. 1

A further object is to provide a high tension magneto characterized by a novel arrangement of its members so that portions of the distributor can be disposed in the space between the housing of the magneto and the permanent magnet or magnetos, wherein said portions are sealedand protected against contact with injurious substances, such as dirt and moisture; the distributor being at one end and the timer and gears for operating the dis tributor preferably at the opposite end of the magneto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a magneto of the high tension variety havinga casing for the gear to revolve the rotor of the distributor, and a single continuous cover plate for said gear and the entire adjacent end of the magneto; said plate supportin the timer of the magneto.

A still urther object is to provide a magneto to'operate at great efficiency, simple in design, compact in size and shape, and constituted of relatively few parts.

Additional objects and advantages will appear in the following description and the novelfeaturesof the invention will be pointed outin the appended claims, but the right is of course reserved to adopt variations in structural details to the full extent permitted by the broad and general meanings of the 1 terms in which the claims are expressed.

. On the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view showing a magneto accordmg to this invent1on;F1g. 2 is a front elevation showing the stator member ofthe distributor with an for thehigh tension brush carried by the ro- 1 element attached to form a distributor track tor of the distributor; Fig. 3 is a similar View with the track omitted; and Fig. 4 is a front framework or housing of the magneto, which may be cast or otherwise. made in one piece. This housing is closed at one end as indicated at 2, and'it is also closed at the bottom, sides and top to provide an interior chamber 3 to receive the armature 4. At the opposite end the housing is open, and the armature 4 may terminate flush with this open end and carry thereat a gear 5, which is attached rigidly to the body of thearmature 4 and rotates therewith. This armature may be of well-known construction, with opposite curved polar faces connected by a core upon which high tension and low tension windings are placed. The housing 1 adjacent the open end and above the top of the chamber 3, carries an integral vertical extension reaching across the housing from side to side and shaped to form a gear casing 6. The extension providing the casing 6 has a central bearing 7 and a peripheral rim 8. Inside of the casing 6 is the distributor gear 9 which meshes with the gear 5 and rotates on a spindle in the bearing 7. The end plate 10 of the magneto engages the rim 8 of the gear casing 6 and the front of the housing adjacent the gear 5, thus completely covering the two gears and the adjacent end of the armature 4.

The armature a has an operating shaftor spindle 11 which projects through a suitable opening in the end 2 of the housing 1. This spindle 11 is to be connected to the shaft which drives the armature. At the opposite end the armature has a hollow spindle 12 and the plate 10 has an external cylindrical projection 13 through which the spindle 12 passes. The spindle 11 is engaged by a suitable antifriction bearing inside of the magneto and supported by the end 2, and spindle 12 carries a similar bearing within the projection or boss 13. Over the outside of the boss 13 is placed a metal cap 14. of suitable material and this boss and cap support the timer or interrupter casing 15. The construction of is mounted its outer face above the timer and casing and the connections of the contacts of the timer with the windings on the armature are well known and need not be described here. 'It is s'ufiicient to state that the hollow spindle 12 contains an insulated stem which projects through the front thereof, and is electrically united to the low tension winding; and surrounding this stem and rotating with the spindle 12, in the casing 15, is the interrupter plate. which carries a contact lever to engage and disengage a terminal mounted on the interrupter plate and rigid therewith but'i-nsulated therefrom. This terminal is connected to the 12. The breaker lever is not insulated and the lever and timer plate are always connect- "ed to groundby way of a carbon brush in interrupter plate running on the cap 14. Cam projections are also provided within the easmg 15 to actuate the breaker lever and separate the contact parts of the timer at the instant when a spark is to be produced.

The cover plate 10 has a projection 16 on the boss 13. Through the projection 16 extends an oil duct 17 which leads to an inlet 18 adjacent the antifriction bearing for the spindle 12. To receive this hearing the inside of the boss 13 is hollowed out to provide a cavity, and the bottom of this cavity is recessed to provide a circular space in which is placed a washer 19 which surrounds the spindle 12. The washer may be separated slightly from the race-way elements of the bearing so'that the lubricant can have 'free access to the bearing The a washer -19 prevents the lubricant from passing through the boss 13 into the timer casln and may either engage the spindle 12 directl or a bushing or jac et mounted on the end with the spindle 12 in the opening through the boss 13. Thus the spindle 12 is effectively lubricated but no leakage to the outside of the plate 10 can take lace. A similar oil duct with outside opening (not shown) may be provided for the ball bearing surrounding the spindle 11. The washers 19 also exclude dust and moisture from the armature chamber.

To come now to the manner of constructing the distributor and connections therefor to the gear 5, the distributor gear 9 is aflixed to one end of spindle 20 supported in the hearing 7 and having a projection 21 upon which to revolve with the shaft 20 the distributor arm or rotor 22.which is of suitable insulation. The stationary distributor plate'or shell is indicated by the numeral 23.

- The rotor 22 carries a conductor brush 24 to engage successively with metal contact plates 25 embedded in the distributor track 26. This distributor track is a ring of insulation referably of the sort known as hitensite. Ft is separated from the distributor plate, which is generally of bakelite, but attached thereto in a suitable manner. Previous atstem in the spindle tem )ts to provide. a track have been made by t e method of molding the hitensite in the plate 23. Such attempts have not been successful, and all the inherent disadvantages thereof are overcome by the expedient of producing this track separately instead of mold ing it in when the bakelite plate 23 is formed, and attaching it to the exterior of the plate 23 when this plate has been finished. The exterior of the member or plate 23 has hollow bosses or sleeves 27 made integral therewith to receive the ends of the high tension leads to the spark plugs.

The high tension current is led out from the high-tension armature windings to a slip ring 28 mounted as usual upon a suitable insulating member adjacent the end 2 and this current is conducted to the brush 24 in a manner which will be fully set forth later.

To secure the distributor gear 9 to the spindle 20, one end of this spindle is reduced to provide a shoulder against which is placed a washer 29. The gear 9 is slipped upon the reduced end which passes through a central opening in the gear, which thus engages this washer with one face thereof. A similar washer 29 is placed on the reduced end against the other face of the gear, and pins 30 are inserted in suitable openings drilled through gear and washers and into the spindle 20 to act as keys and hold the spindle and gear together. The extremity of the reduced end of the spindle is expanded as at 31 to grip the outer washer 29 and hold this washer and gear securely in place. At

32 the cover plate 10 carries a hollow inside. projection which receives a stud 33 having a y collar between its ends,

in line with the spindle 20. The adjacent end of the spindle 20 has a central bore 34 containing a spring 35 and the brush 36, the spring holding the brush 36 in contact with the other end of the stud 33, which may enter the bore 34. The force of the spring 35 tends to move the spindle 20 to the left so that the rotor 22 is kept in proper position with respect to the track 26.

The lower part of the extension providing gear casing 6 has a recess or reservoir 37 between the top of the housing and the bearing 7. This recess opens towards the gear 9 and is closed at this point by the expansion plug 38. An oil duct is drilled from the top of casing 6 down to the inside of bearing 7 as shown at 39; and within this hearing surrounding the spindle 20 is a lining or jacket 40. This jacket carries a circumferential groove 41 in its outside in line with the duct 39 and the duct 39 is extended through to the chamber 37, so that oil can flow into this chamber by way of the groove 41 around the latter can operate without 1 friction in the bearing 7 and sleeve 40.

The numeral 45 indicates a packing placed in a groove formed in a shoulder 46 on the gear casing 6. The part of the extension providing the gear casing 6 which forms the shoulder 46 extends rearwardly beneath the 1 top of the horseshoe-shaped permanent magnetl47. Several magnets may-be employed if desired. This packing and groove con taining it run from the top of the magnet 47 down both sides to the top of the armature.

chamber 3, so that dirt and moisture are excluded from the space between the top of the magnet and top of chamber 3 containing rotor 22.

;Above the slip ring 28 the top of the chamher 3 has an opening 48 which is closed by an insulating plug or cap 49. This cap carries a contact brush 5O engaging the ring 28. i The brush is mounted in a metal socket 51 in plug 49. This socket has one end closed but exposed through the top of the plug 49 to be engaged by a conductor spring 52. This spring is secured to the inside of the distributor plate or shell 23, which has anopening adjacent said spring, and is connected to a similar connection strip 53 on a the inside of the plate 23 carrying amefront of the rotor tallic socket 54 which mounts a contact brush 55. The contact brush 55 and socket 54 extend through the the brush engages a metallic insert 56 in the 22. The socket 54 contains a spring which presses the brush 55 against the rotor and the brush 55 is aligned with the brush 36. The rotor 22 also has embedded therein a metallic socket 57 connected with the metallic inset 56, and in the socket 57 is the distributor brush 24. A spring within this socket forces the brush 24 to engage the high tension contacts 25 in the ring 26. The spring 35 and the springs engaging the brushes 24 and are designed to keep all the parts in their proper operating positions. At the inner end of the hollow sleeves 27 v are metallic bushings 58 with holes through which are passed screws 59, which enter threaded bores in the contact pieces 25. These screws may be sealed in place. As the armature 4 rotates the timer contacts are actuated at'the required intervals and the high tension current thus flows through the ring 28, brush 50, spring 52and connection strip 53, brush 55, insert 56, brush 24 and distributor contacts 25 to the sparkplugs to effect ignition in the power cylinders of the motor in the necessary order.

a The distributor plate or shell 23 rests upon the housing 3, adjacent end 2 and is secured in the wick 43 distributor track 26, and

place in a suitable manner. The inner ends of the sleeves 27 pro'ect from the plate and are shown at 60, an the track 26 abuts the inner portions 60 of these sleeves. The shell 23 has a circular flange 61 which envelope the track 26 and pro ects'inside of the magnet I 47, and to some extent surrounds the rotor 22.

Encirclin this flange is a shoulder 62 which is groove to receive packin 63. This packing en ges the adjacent si e of the magnet 47 an cooperates with the packing 45 to close up the chamber containing the rotor 22. If more than one magnet be used, the crevice between them would have to be sealed up.

The armature 4 carries the usual condenser 64 and the windings are indicated at 65 on this armature. The plugs for the oil ducts 17 and 39 are indicated at 66 and may be of any suitable construction. The cover plate 10 is of course fastened to the gear casing 6 by any kind of fastening means such as screws,

capable of answering the purpose. The bottom of the housing 1 may carry a safety screw 67 projecting towards the ring 28 to provide a safety gap.

It will be further seenthat the armature chamber is also effectually sealed by the plate 10 and the plug 49 and the armature and its bearings are thus fully protected.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. A magneto comprising a framework formed to provide an armature chamber and a gearcasing, a single end plate to cover the gear casing and one end of the armature chamber, said casing being part of said framework, said end plate having an exterior supporting projection, and timer mechanism comprising a casing on said projection.

2. A magneto comprising a framework providing a chamber for the armature, said chamber being open at one end, the framework also including a gear casing adjacent the open end of said chamber, a gear in said casing, a gear attached to the armature meshing with the first gear, a timer mounted adjacent said gears, a casing for the timer, and a distributor adjacent the opposite end of the armature chamber driven directly by the first gear.

3. In a magneto, the combination of an armature having a driving gear at one end, a casing therefor, a timer casing carried adjacent said end, a distributor gear meshing with the driving gear, and a distributor at the opposite end of the magneto comprising a rotor 'jdriven by the distributor gear.

4. Aginagneto comprising a framework formed to provide an armature chamber, the top of said chamber having an opening at one end, an insulator plug mounted in said opening and carrying a brush engaging the armature, a distributor shell carried by the mounted in said shell, a rotor connected to said brush and carrying a brush to engage said contact plates in succession, gearing adjacent the other end of the chamber actuating the rotor from the armature,and timer mechanism adjacent said gearing.

5. A magneto comprising a framework providing an armature chamber, a magnet with a space between a portion thereof and said chamber, said framework having an ex tension at one end above said chamber, said extension having a shoulder projecting into the magnet from one side thereof, packing between said shoulder and said magnet, a distributor shell mounted upon the armature chamber at the opposite side of said magnet and engaging the same, packing between said shell and said magnet, the space between the magnet and the armature chamber thus being sealed, distributor contacts in said shell within said space, a' rotor connected to receive current from the armature and mounted to rotate in said space to engage said contacts in succession, and means for driving said rotor from the armature.

6. A magneto comprising a housing shaped to provide an armature chamber and a gear casing above one end of said chamber, a magnet behind said casing with a space separating the magnet from said chamber, packing between said casing and one side of said magnet, a distributor shell supported upon said chamber at the opposite side of the magnet and engaging the same,packing between said magnet and said shell, the space within the magnet thus being sealed, contacts in said distributor shell, the gear casing having a central bearing, a shaft in said bearing geared to the armature, and a rotor within said space mounted on said shaft, said rotor ing connected to the armature and having 7 a brush to engage said contacts in succession.

magneto comprising a framework and one or more magnets carried thereby, a distributor on the framework, said distributor comprising a stator and a circular projection extending inside of the magnets, contact plates supported inside of said projection, and a rotor partly enveloped by said projection to conduct current to said plates.

8. A magneto having an armature chamber and means forming a gear casing adjacent to one end of the chamber, t mer mechanism adjacent said end of the chamber operated directly by said armature, distributor mechanism in the opposite end of the magneto, and a gear in said casing for operating the distributor.

9. In a magneto, a framework providing an armature chamber open at one end and a gear casing with a peripheral rim adjacent the open end of said chamber, an end plate formed to engage the rim of the casing and to extend over the end of the chamber, a gear in said casin driven from said armature timer mechanism on the end plate connected signatures. GUSTAVE J. LANG.

JOHN F. MARTIN. 

